A Houston judge, who was elected in November as part of a 'Black Girl Magic' campaign along with 16 other women, has died of pancreatic cancer. Cassandra Hollemon, 57, passed away on Monday at around 1am, surrounded by family and friends, at Harris Health Ben Taub Hospital, Fox News reported. Her children said she only found out about the cancer last week. 'Once she found it (the cancer), it took her and it just progressed,' Brandon Hollemon, Cassandra's son, said. 'There was no time. It was very aggressive. Cancer sucks.' Hollemon presided over Harris County Criminal Court of Law 12 since January 1, when she was sworn in by newly elected Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo. 'Finally reaching this, then getting this devastating news, it’s just heartbreaking,' her son said. Judge Cassandra Hollemon, 57 (pictured), who was elected in November as part of a 'Black Girl Magic' campaign along with 16 other black women in Houston's Harris County, has died 'She turned out to have blood clots in her lungs, pulmonary embolisms which was caused by the pancreatic cancer,' her daughter, Brandy Hollemon, said. Hollemon was told she had Stage 4 pancreatic cancer in early February, after being misdiagnosed with chronic bronchitis in December, her children said. 'We are saddened by the passing of Judge Cassandra Y. Hollemon,' her fellow Harris County misdemeanor Judge Darrell Jordan told the Houston Chronicle. 'She was a compassionate judge who treated one in a respectful manner.' Before her election, Holloman had been practicing law for over 22 years, according to her campaign materials, shared on Facebook. She graduated from the South Texas College of Law in 1994, after earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Legal Studies from the University of St. Thomas. One of Hollemon's campaign slogans was, 'Standing for fair, equal and unbiased justice for ALL,' and said she wanted to 'transform lives.' Her reasons for seeking an elected position included, 'fair treatment for the mentally challenged, seeking truth regardless of one's job or title, ruling without prejudice or bias,' and 'alternative sentencing terms that are manageable and purposeful.' Hollemon presided over Harris County Criminal Court of Law 12 since January 1, when she was sworn in by newly elected Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo Hollemon's reasons for seeking an elected position included, 'fair treatment for the mentally challenged, seeking truth regardless of one's job or title, ruling without prejudice or bias,' and 'alternative sentencing terms that are manageable and purposeful' During her brief time on the bench, Hollemon left a lasting mark on the community with her joint efforts to settle a landmark lawsuit over the county's cash bail system. She also served on the Community Supervision and Pretrial Services Committee. 'She was competitive; she was a fighter,' Court 4 misdemeanor Judge Shannon Baldwin said. 'It's really sad and humbling that she's not here with us now.' Hollemon was part of a group of 17 black women elected to Harris County judicial positions in the 2018 midterm elections. The 'Black Girl Magic' moniker has been used as a hashtag in recent years to highlight the accomplishments of black girls and women. In politics, it's been used to highlight the role black women have played in helping decide various races, including the highly contested Senate race in Alabama in 2017 in which Democrat Doug Jones beat Republican Roy Moore. Hollemon (fourth from left) was part of a group of 17 black women elected to Harris County judicial positions in the 2018 midterm elections. This photos shows the 17 women who won election and two others who were then judges in Harris County but lost bids in November to win seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals are pictured. Front row, leaning against the podium from left, are Maria Jackson and Ramona Franklin. Back row, from left, are Lucia Bates, Erica Hughes, Sandra Peake, Cassandra Hollemon, Germaine Tanner, Ronnisha Bowman, Linda Marie Dunson, Angela Graves-Harrington, Dedra Davis, Shannon Baldwin, Latosha Lewis Payne, Tonya Jones, Sharon Burney, Michelle Moore, Lori Chambers Gray, Toria Finch and LaShawn Williams. Maria Jackson and Ramona Franklin in front row are the two women who are currently judges but lost bids to win seats on the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals The election of Hollemon and her colleagues had increased the number of black female judges in Harris County from eight to 25, according to the Harris County Democratic Party. Now, sadly, that number is 24 The victory by Hollemon and her 16 black female counterparts in November was part of a Harris County rout by the Democrats, who won almost all of the nearly 70 local judicial races and ousted a popular Republican from the county's top elected office. Even accounting for the women's success, more than three-quarters of US trial judges in the Houston area are white, according to 2016 report by a liberal legal organization, the American Constitution Society. The same data showed that less than one-third of state judges were women, less than one-fifth were people of color, and less than one-eighth - only about 12 percent - of its state court judges are women of color. Meanwhile, in Texas, women of color make up more than one quarter - about 28 percent - of the state's population. The election of Hollemon and her colleagues had increased the number of black female judges in Harris County from eight to 25, according to the Harris County Democratic Party. Now, sadly, that number is 24. Her successor will be appointed by county leaders. Hollemon is survived by a son and daughter, and a granddaughter. Her funeral services will be held on Saturday. Hollemon's successor will be appointed by county leaders. Her funeral will be held on SaturdayAll rights reserved for this news site dailymail and under his responsibility